ARDEID^. 185 



over the river near Surley. Another was shot a few 

 years since near Windsor, and I am informed that 

 this species has been observed near Reading. 



The Oyster-catcher is one of our handsomest shore 

 birds, and it would be difficult to find a more 

 picturesque sight than a flock of these birds feeding 

 on the rocks at low water, their black and white 

 plumage contrasting admirably with their orange bill 

 and pink legs. The note of the Oyster-catcher is loud 

 and shrill, and is repeated quickly as the bird flies ; 

 the call-note is said by Meyer to resemble the words 

 * quip-quip/ but the exact note musically expressed 

 will be found in Mr. Harting's Birds of Middlesex, 

 p. 159. 



Family — Ardeid^. 



Purple Heron {Ardea purpurea). This Heron, 

 which is a native of Southern Europe and Africa, can 

 only be considered as a rare straggler to Britain. 



An immature female of this species was shot near 

 White Waltham, not far from Windsor, early in 

 September, 1861. It was taken by the man who 

 killed it to Mr. Hasell, one of the Windsor bird- 

 stuflers, from whom I learnt the particulars of its 

 capture. The Rev. L. Jenyns, in his * Manual of 

 British Vertebratae,' states that the Purple Heron 

 has been killed in Berkshire. The food of this bird 

 is in all respects similar to that of its congeners, viz. 



